RATE YOUR CHILD: GIFTED? or VERY GIFTED?

Cathy,
In NYC, everything is a competition with the kids as far as I can tell. I can't stand it. Here's one thing I notice: When people meet my son (barely 2yo) and he's talking with more words and sentences, socializing and figuring things out on his own more than their 3yo child, people tell me he's bright and they literally ask me if I am going to have him tested because he must be gifted. Sheesh. The tests start at what, 4yo? I tend to downplay his vocabulary and the other stuff in order to NOT brag. But, the scenario above is one reason I thing that the obsession happens--you hear it over and over and you start to think, "hey, maybe my kid is gifted." For me, I do describe my son as happy. When people ask me how he is my answer is usually a combo of, "He's great. He keeps me busy. He has a sweet personality. He started randomly saying 'I wub you, mommy' last week. Etc." Sometimes I throw in his latest whatever, like the time I discovered he could point out about 10 or 12 letters of the alphabet. But it's secondary.

Maybe he is gifted. Who knows. I, myself, was tested as a first-grader (and later in fifth grade) and then taken by bus twice a week to special gifted classes through a lot of elementary school. In middle school gifted programs, I found myself frustrated and wanting to be with my friends. What I remember most was that a lot of the kids in my gifted classes were antisocial and I, being social, began to resent having to go. My dad told me I could stop going in eighth grade, and I did.

Bottom line: Child-rearing in NYC is a competitive sport for many people and it's hard not to be influenced by that. Try as I might, even I sometimes look online for articles on spotting a gifted toddler. Then I laugh aloud later that night as my son throws his mashed potatoes across the table... and onto my head.

My child actually is gifted (IQ tested and all, at the school's suggestion). I don't have any "secrets", but I will tell you it makes being a parent of a grade-schooler extremely challenging.

I too have a "proven" gifted child and I can tell you that it is not all fun. It is exhausting and almost a full time job keeping her sane. You should be glad that you are in a school that is respected and apparently meets the needs of all children. We are applying to private schools which will require a complete change of lifestyle forever. My dream is for my kid to get what she needs during the day at school so she can come home and be a kid instead of needing to study at night because she was so bored all day.

Anja,
she too is a gifted child
I agree it is really hard when she gets home and hits the study books she is in her zone and you can't even get her to have dinner .
she has raw talent for Dancing, music,and academicly way over her standard age, and has talent for skateboarding she can even do a quadroople kick flip.I dont even know what that is and i was a pro!
But seriously she won Principals Award last year .She just couldnt help it
im proud and all but i just wish she would be more normal so she would have a little less friends she has litrley thousands. Anyways back to the smartness I can even say she is smarter than me! When she ever goes on the computer which is hardly ever she only goes on sites which you can learn things off and museum sites.
She hasn't even seen our heard about sites like socail networks and gaming sites - Fun sites
Its a hard life she does all the work in the house and never relaxes like the rest of our family i cant get her to sit down. But atleast i dont have to work! Just through all the work her way. I have beenm running out of things to tel her to do. I want to let her relax but when she finally does its abnormal and i make her do things
Its Hard! I need someone to give me things to do
tell me anything that takes hardwork and ill tell her . She Needs More.
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